Old Enough (The Age Between Us Part 1) by Charmaine Pauls

Old Enough by Charmaine Pauls is part one of two in the Age Between Us series. Having read Charmaine Pauls work before, and enjoying it, I was eager to give this book a try. Warning, this book ends on a cliffhanger, and for me this book went extremely fast. I recommend having both parts on hand when beginning Old Enough.

Jane, for the most part, has been able to go on with her life after the death of a previous lover over a decade ago. On the anniversary of his death, she mourns him deeply, then returns to her husband and daughter. She considers Francois her best friend, however, a passion for him is lacking. When he asks Jane for a divorce, it still comes as a shock to her. 

Brian is a student in college. He is trying desperately to care for his emotionally troubled mother and his younger sister. A chance meeting at a bar, with a man determined to ruin Jane's life, puts Brian on Jane's path. From the moment Brian sees Jane, his gravitation to her is instant.

When Jane and Brian meet, seemingly by chance, they quickly begin an affair. Watching the romance grow, steeped in a passionate dominant-submissive intensity, was alluring.

Brian is mature for his age, having to become the head of his household at a young an age. Everything Brian does is for the benefit of others. He protects his mother, sister, and, almost immediately, Jane. The perfect balance of compassion and assertiveness, Brian is appealing as the romantic lead. 

Jane has a hard time recovering from the changes in her life. Her old friends, her ex-husband, her job, all seem to drag her further into despair. Brian becomes the one good thing in her life, and soon, even their affair becomes impossible for her to believe will survive. I felt sorry for Jane. I spent a lot of time frustrated with the treatment she endured from her family and friends. So frustrated, in fact, that I began not relating to her very well.

Unfortunately for Brian and Jane, their romance is ill-timed. Jane is dealing with her divorce, as well as the prejudice regarding her relationship with Brian. Brian is desperately trying to avoid involvement with the gang in his neighborhood. He realizes dealing with the crime family head-on, rather than avoiding it, is the only way to ensure his loved ones will remain safe. These outer influences make it appear their relationship will not survive.

Charmaine Pauls knows how to write dark, taboo romances. Her couples have to work hard for their relationship, but the payoff is better for it. I received this book from NetGalley for my honest opinion. I encourage all readers to reach their own conclusions.

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Shadow's Bane by Karen Chance

Update 01/07/2019 I just made my way through the entire Cassie Palmer novels. I have to say, this book is better when you know all of the back story. I also feel the need to say this is one of my favorite ongoing series out there right now. SO glad I decided to read them all!


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Shadow's Bane by Karen Chance is the fourth in the Midnight Daughter series. Dhampir Dory is the main protagonist. She is sassy, hilarious and I appreciated seeing this world through her eyes. Dory is on the trail to stop fae slavers while dodging assassins looking to steal her newly appointed Vampire Senate seat. There is exciting action, relationships with a depth of emotion, and Dory's quest to find mental stability. I was hooked immediately.

Urban fantasies that comprise multiple casts of supernaturals tend to be more enjoyable for me. Avoiding species cliches is more likely when all the focus is not on one breed. Shadow's Bane has a variety, all unique and compelling. I haven't seen a dhampir quite like Dory. About halfway through the book, everything started to come together for me. The relationships were clear, and the depth of the threat was fully surfacing. By this point, I had a vested interest in the characters.

Different backstories interject throughout the narrative, serving to help one understand the connecting plot-lines of the characters introduced in prior installments. I appreciate the context, but it became a bit tiresome for me. There was a lot to absorb, stopping midway in a scene to connect all the dots interrupted the flow. I can fill in the blanks and would rather backtrack in a series if I feel it necessary.

Speaking of backtracking, I will now be doing precisely that with the Midnight's Daughter books. Shadow's Bane is what I look for in an urban fantasy series. I received an ARC copy of Shadow's Bane from Netgalley and Berkley Publishing Group for my honest opinion. I encourage all readers to come to their own conclusions.

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Deep Cover by Scarlett Cole

Amy and Cabe are working on different angles of a criminal case at the Lucky Seven Casino and a dedication to doing the right thing, for all of the parties involved, was a priority. A past crime involving Amy's mother supports her drive to stop the female disappearance at the Lucky Seven. Cabe and his team have a similar investment. Sokolov's crime syndicate has directly threatened the lives of family members of the Eagle Security team. They possess equal justification to make sure the casino becomes crime free. Bringing the villains down became as essential to me as it was to them. The team worked intelligently and well together, and it was clear they were all becoming great friends. I remained invested in the characters during the attempt to end these atrocities.

Amy's father is a professional poker player, and her uncle runs a casino. Due to her resources, she has the skills to go undercover at the Lucky Seven to investigate the missing women. As Amy goes undercover as a card dealer, the stress builds. The owner of the casino, Faulkner, has charm but at the same time, he crosses a line that justifies caution and suspicion. In contrast, Amy's direct supervisor Ortega is respectable with Amy and the rest of the staff. Who is helping Sokolov launder money if anyone? Who is responsible for the missing women, the indecent boss or the moral one? These questions fuel the anxiety. Cabe and Eagle Securities focus their attention on the money laundering. Cabe attempts to befriend Sokolov while covertly searching for the money switches. Cabe and the team do their job well. Cabe's instincts and reactions are appropriate to what I believe an ex-NAVY Seal would be. He is protective and keeps his team, which now includes Amy, safe.

I enjoyed Cabe but, his contribution is primarily guarding Amy's back. I would have liked to see Cabe play a more prominent role in the end battle, rather than just being Amy's knight in shining armor. Along the same lines, I felt an agent with Amy's qualifications could have needed less saving. I also sense Amy being more assertive in the face of danger would have made her more interesting. A  dynamic involving a couple fighting together is a delicate balance. I still found their decisions sound and them both to be capable in their jobs.

When reading romance novels, I am most committed when the plot surrounding the couple can stand on its own. I find that Deep Cover was one of these novels. Having said that, the romance in Deep Cover was also quite captivating. The characters, for justifiable reasons, decided not to pursue their attraction to each other. In high-pressure situations, that only lasts so long. When they give in to the chemistry between them, it is explosive. Well done there. This relationship develops while they are getting to know each other without bringing sex into the equation. I welcome this method as it is more believable. I recommend giving Deep Cover by Scarlett Cole a chance. I received this book from Netgalley and St Martin’s Press in exchange for my honest review.

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Awaken the Darkness by Dianne Duvall

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Awaken the Darkness is the latest in the Immortal Guardian books by Diane Duvall. When Susan rescues Stanislav, he has lost all memory of his past. As they begin to realize Stan has preternatural gifts they are desperate to find his memories and someone they can trust. Reading Awaken the Darkness as a stand-alone is entirely possible. The reader has the opportunity to discover his background as Stanislav remembers. But as a series reader, I always recommend starting from the beginning.

Stan and Susan are fantastic together. Their relationship evolves quickly, but I feel it is a reasonable occurrence. You perceive their emotional connection right away. Susan was cautious but compassionate. Stanislav was respectful and protective of Susan, but he was not obnoxious about it. They found instant chemistry with one another and are a likable couple.

The plot unfolds in a tight pocket of time, and the pacing is quite fast. I felt an immense amount of tension when the situation called for it. Once Stan was on the correct path to finding his Immortal family, I got especially anxious. The poor man had all the answers in front of him. But if you can't remember your past, it is incredibly hard to trust. Then the ending snuck up on me. Not a lot happens in regards to the overall series arc, but I did not mind this at all.

When I first experienced The Immortal Guardians series by Dianne Duvall, I fell instantly in love with the series. She brings an appropriate balance between drama, comedy,  suspense, and romance. This is a captivating urban fantasy/paranormal romance series, one that I wait not so patiently for the next installment. I always suggest that all readers come to their own conclusions.